The Two Miniatures

♦ No wooing had preceded tfee marriage. It was merely a marriage de convenance - both parties understood and regardcd it so. It was not they that were married, but the broad lands and fertile estates of their paronts, Strange that any man, and much more, any woman, could stoop to so false an aot ! But Sir Hugii Grandison might and would have lost hia beautiful bride, had t not been for the stately coldness of her denieanor ; he had been unmarred by contact with the world, and longed for bappiuess and home. Lady Alica Charlton cared little for either, and still less for him. In her first girlhood she had plighted her faith to one who left her ■for a time and died n a far-off land - died before one message could be sent to her he loved - died alone and among fctrangerSj and was buried where lier tears could never moisten the turf upon his breaatj They told the tidings to Lady Alice, little dneamirg that the lonely adventurer had be-en aught to her. She was in her own elegant home, surrounded by a brilliant cirele of guests, white Sir Uuglí íírandison leaned over her chair and bent his admiring eyes upon her queenly face and form. She heard the speaker through ; the rich color died. elowly out of her cheek lea.ving her white and stern,; her lips .sh.ut iirmly, as if they would suppress a shriek of agony ; her large dark eyes wandered slowly round the group with a gaze .of passionate despar. It was but for a moment. The woudering looks of all ajound, reoalled herself; and making a graceful apology for her sudden abstraetion, she played her part so sucoessfully, that no one guessed the secret she guard ed with Spartanlike firmness. Not until he was alone in her luxurious chamber did rhe storm break forth. She mourued as phe had loved, most deeply and passionately; but to the wojld ,sbe eenied unmoved. A little colder, a litle haughtier, a little more patiënt of outspoken admiration and love, she seemd ; but feeling was unfashionable in her xelusive cirele, and none knew, or cared rO'know, that the heart beating within ha .breast was a heart of stone." A year pat-'sed away. The noble fathr of Alice, seeing that she was in no way inclined to choose one from her many ovets, chose for her, and selected Sir Iugh Grandison as his future son in+law. 'he young baronet was only too eager nd willing to accept the fair hand of'ened him ; but when her fut her brought ïim to her os an acknowledged lover, be checked all his rapturea, apd said, oldly, "Sir Hugh Grandison, let us lave a perfect understanding. I d not ove you. I never shall love you" - a ook of pain shot over her calm face as ■she repressed the word - "agaiu " &he paused for a momeut and then went on, with her coid df.rk eyes bent full upon his face : "But the earl my father wishes us to marry - you wish it, and I am uot opposed to the measure. But I beg you to understand distinctly that, while I give you a wife's duty, you must never lcok for her love or blind submission. From the moment we leave the altar, our lives must be separate thaugh our home s one. On these cqnditions will I give you my band. Are they aecepted ?" The young man stood for a moment bewildered. There was no mistaking her worde or manner. Those clear dark eyes, the scornful lip an-d liaughty brow, assured him that sht had spoken the truth, and no love was there ; but he had long cherished a passion lor 'her, and hoping thnt his fervent love might win 8ome affectiou in return, when they were one in the ej;ï?s of the world, be clasped the email fair hand in his, raised it toiiis lips, an answered, "I accept; and it shall be tlie study of my life to make you happy." " -Be it sq," was her unmoved reply ; and then die k;ft him. The engagement was soon made public, and all eyes were curiously scanning the "happy pair." They could find no fault nith the ill coneealed devotion of I the lover ; ar.d the .Calni unmovqd way , in wliich Alico teceiyed his attontionïi ' or listened to his whispered words, was acknowledged to be the very perfection of high brecding. "A quoen could not be more trarq'ully self-possessed" was the general verdict, of all looked oagerly forwaid to the bridal. It came ere long, on a bright and sanny spring day. The splendid saloons wero thronged with the fashiona blo friends of both parties ; and a marmur of congratulation greeted the lovely bride, as she turned away from the altar with checks and lips as white as tho snowy aatin robes she wore. Her liusband prossed his lips to her clieek. She received that firat caress as calmly as though he were but one of the glittering throng around, and when all had wished her joy ehe retired to her apartments, preserved an unbroken siience while her maids robed her in her traveling dress, and joined the party once again attired for her journey, Calmly and coldly wero all her farewells spoken ; but when she came to her father, her forced oomposure gave way ; and throwing her arms around the earl'd neck, sheclung to him a moment in silent, tearless agony. She heard his parting blessing; and sitting by the side of her husband, was whirled away from the home of her childhood. A month elapsod bofore the pair' returned to occupy their elegant mansion iu town But in that mouth a strange ehange had taken place in Grandison. He seemed restless, uneasy and agitated ; he foHowed the stately movements of his wife with anxious eyes; he was unhappy in her society, and wretebcd away from her side ; in short, he was little like the merry, light henrted bachelor his deareat friends had known ; and one and all foreswore matrimony sinco it had altered him so. It was not long ere Madame Rumor reported the startliugfact, that the gentleman and lady ocoupied separate apartments, and only met at stated hours in the dining or drawing room. Gieat was the wonder, many the surmises hazarded upon this disclosure; but no one dared to ques tion the parliesmostdeeply interested, anc thoy held their peace. In public and in private, Alice was unifnrmly kind and polite to her husband ; but this was all ; and tho wouderiDg city had an opportunity of wituessing that anomaly - a man violently in love with his own wife and seeking in vain to win her. We doubt if Alice saw the strurole in his mind. Her own feelings were benuinbed - her own heart seemed cold and áead. Judging his nature by her own, she deemed him satisfied with her rigid observance of all wifely propwety and dignity - it was all he required of her - she was true to the letter of her vow, and her spirit was at rest. Two years had passed away. It was the aoniversary of her wedding day, and Lady Alice Grandison sat in her boudoir, robed for a party, and ouly awaiting the arrival of her husband, wlio was to escort her. The years bad changed her 1 fit Ie'. Sbo was fair and proud as ever. Her robes of azure velvet - her .coronet of peark and diamonds - lier necklace, with its heavy diamond cross, her bracelets and the ring she wore, were fit adornments for an empress; and right well did she become them. She was alone ; and touehing a secret spring in her escritoire, she took from a small drawer two miniatures cased in gold, and laid them side by side. One was that of her dead lover ; the other of her husband. Leaning her head upon her haud she gazed long and earnestly at the two ; and as her dark eyos dimmed wilh tears, she could but ackrïowledge the shadowy likencss that existed between the loved and the unloved one. Itwas afaint and shadowy one, but still it was no fancy. A something on lip, cheek and brow - tho same careless arrangement of the waving hair- -and more than all, the same earnest, loving intensity of look nnd expression in tho deep blue eyes. This, never seen before, was what now claimed her attention to both. The small pendule over the mantel piece struck the hour of niue ; and with a deep sigh, she replaced the portraits in the drawer, and left the room. S-lie rang, on roaching the drawing-room, to ask for her husband. There was a büstle and the sound of many feet in the hall below before the suramons was answered ; and then the aervant 'who an swered looked palé and frightened. A strange, sickening apprehension cropt over her as she asked, "Where is your master ?" The ser.vant stammered, hesitated, aud cast strangs looks lowards tho door. Dreading she knew not what, sha stepped out iuto the hall and looked down tho wide stairs. Four men were ascendtng, hearing a motionless form betweeu them. The long hair hung down towards the floor, and from a wound in tbe forehead the dark blood was flowing frcely. They stoppcd short when they saw her awaiting thom ; they evidently dreaded a suene ; but she was finn and calm, though heavy at her heart lay the thought, "If ho is doiid how can I forgive luyself for thu uuhappiness 1 have caused him-?" Obeying her calmly spoken orders, they laid him duwn upon a sofa in the splendid drawingroom. Ho had been s ruck "down before his own dwelling by a runaway horse,; and tho f'ümily physician, who wasinstantly summoned, gave little ho[)os of' his recovcry. The wreteh ed wife sat close beside him, while the unsightly wound was closod ; his blood flowed unheeded over her rich attire, and one small white hirad was crimsoned as it held his head ; for the first time her pale lips pressed his owu ; for tho first time she laid ia er olieek to biaj and called hiin by a thousand endcaring ïiiimes; for the first time the kuowledge that sho loved hi:n caine to bring her ten fold misory. The .estrangemeut of years was forgotten ; the Rtono was j j cd away (rom the door of hor heart, and ' Lts living water gushed out onco moro. Bilt he who wouid havo periled life and limb for one unsolieiled caress from her, now lay palo and still while sfae presaed him to lier heart; and tb.3 lovo that bo had sought in vaiñ during life, seemed only giveu too late - only to waste itself upon a palliJ CQrpso and a lonely grave. Sho watehed beside him day and nigiit, in tbü chaniber where he had spént so many lonely houra. Into this room she had ac.aroely entered since hu had installed her mistress of his household ; and everywhere sho saw such traces of his love for her as j.iercod her very heart. In a small alcove beyond his bed hung her portrait - the first and last thing he saw as ho opeued s,ud c'osed his eyos. A srnali inluid cabinet held the trifling gifts sho had bestowed upon him from time to time; a favorito book - a picture - a tress of daik brown huir - withered bouquets - a smal! golden star - and many a thing whicli she had given cerenioniously or ligUtly, which he had treasured as his choicest possessious. The glitter of a gold chain upon his neck attructed her attention as she bent over him one night. Softly she drew it forth and gazed upon a splendid picture of herself, set iu a suiall gold frame. Sho gazed in silenec for a moment ; thon pride left her heart and lovo usurped its place. Sinking upon her knees by the bedside, ■wbile her tears feil fast upon the dear hand that lay ieebly on the counterpune, sho prayed as she had nover prayed before, that God would spare his life, tiiat she niight atone for her sius by years of pationt and enduring lovo. Her prayer was heard ; for God is merciful, even when we sin most deeply. All night she watched beside him. With tite early dawn the physioian entercd tho -room. He hold he shrunken hand in his for a moment, gave one se&rching glance into the marble-like face, and turning to her, said briefly, " Your care has saved him ; he will live I" ■Late in the afternoon of that day, Alice sat bes'de the bed, waiting for the long deep slumber to be brokeu, that she might see those blue eyes look up at her once again. Sho was dressed as for a bridal, in a robe of pearly satin, with no ornaraents, save a single white rose in herjdark hair, and another on her breast. The eolor deeper.ed in her eheeks as the eveutful hour drew near ■; her fine eyes giowed and sparkled wilh the love so long imprisoued and go suddenly set free. The golden hands of her watoh pointed to tho hour of seven, wkea the sleeper moved slightly, drew a long sigh and opened his eyes. She bint over him with a beating heart ; his gaze wandering uneasily round the room, fixed upon her - kindled - and he tried to smile. Very gently she passed her arm be neath tht aching head and drew it wards her till it rested upou.her breast ; very genïly her warm lips feil upon his brow ; very gently the tears, which she .could uot quite repxeas, feil upoti his wasted dieet. He looked up in a strange joyful surprise, and asked faintly, "Alice, what does this mean ■?" " It meaos that you must live to forgive me!" she sobbed, "That I love you with all my heart, and nono' bat you ? Do not send tno away, my husband !" Ah. his tears wero falling now ! Too weak to feel astonishment, he could only thank God silently. He drew her feebly to his breast and whispered, "Ai y wife - God bless you ! Life is worth the living now !" Their lips met ia a 'long, long kiss of reconoiliation and forgiveness. All was silent in the chamber ; for happiuess like theirs there is no language. ,M[LLEDGEViLLE.-The capital of Georgia is sittiated on tho west bank of the Oconee river, and was once the hea.l of navigation for small steamers until railroad íacilkies xendered that roeans oí conveyance preferable -to the unoertainty of the depth ot water in the rivor. It is a station on t,he Ijatonton branch ra,il road, which runs southward to Gordon, distant thixty-eight miles, which is a depot twenty miles east of Macon, on the Georgia Central Railroad. It will be seen, by reference to a map, that the occupation of JJilledgevrlle would be an important acquisition to General Sherman, taking in view Macon as a prirnary objective point. It is not onjy the capital úf Georgia, bilt it, in ameasure, flanks Macon, or enablcs it to be fLanked by a rapid Itiseagt of tho Gcmulgee river, a síream which tho army must cro3s at Macon, and thu passage of which can be better accotnpliahod above than at that point. L" Tho following advertisement is taken from the columns of tbe Weciily Telcgraph of St Louis, beuring datu March r2th, 1859 : II. BOGGS. ü. S. GRAN'T. " J3ogg8 ■& Grant, general agenta for selling, bartering rual or porsonal property, notes, bonds and other süüiirjlio-; borrowiag oi'iloamng af monoy on real estato av other good wecurity ; uollectng of pents, renting of honsea, collecting of notes, bilí?, accounts or otber demands. Office No. 35 Pine Street, Lt. Louis, Missouri. Sorghum sugar, made at -G' iosgo, is n eshibition at thu Agricnltural Department in Wahingion, Tt ha the appearance of bright Havana sugar, indcan be sold at $!) per 100 pouods. Dan Kico ishaving built a splendid monument to perpetúate thu memory of j Ihc scldiers ofErio countv, Pa, The ■hole moDiiment will be 28 feet in height ; its dosign i,s an txceodingly ; baudsoriie.one and will cost f 4,500.